Quinlan: Foster’s Pride – Lion Shapeshifter Romance (Foster's Pride Book 3) by Kathi Barton (read a book TXT) 📕

“I’d suggest a sign-up sheet too. Not just for those who are coming, but for some people to come in and help cook, as well as cut up the food for this. It might go better that way where you’re not worn out from cooking about fifty turkeys while the other people are home relaxing.” Mom told him that was a great idea. “I would also like to suggest that we hire some of the kids at the school to help out. Cleaning up or even getting coffee and other drinks. I’d be willing to pay them if they wanted to use the money for band or whatever club they might be in.”

“Yes, that’s wonderful. I know that sometime in March, the band has already set up a time to use the building for a large garage sale. They’re renting tables for people to use. Also, they’re taking donations of items they can sell themselves. I know Ronan and Brook have said they’d supply the food for them to sell. Oh, this is going to be so good for the town, son. I cannot wait for it to be finished so we can get things moving in it.”

Quin hugged his mom as they were being seated.

The others were already seated and had drinks. Instead of giving them a hard time about being late, they asked about the barn and what kind of things had been done. Brook said she thought it was not only going to come in under budget, but it might be ready as much as ten days earlier than she’d said. Not that there had been a budget to work with. Brook and her crew weren’t charging his mom anything for the work or the material.

Dinner was fun, loud, and friendly. With their ever-growing family, he was sure they were going to have to rent an entire restaurant when the time came to do this in the future. Perhaps they’d use the barn. Quin knew for a fact there were several large smokers and grills being put together for anyone to use. It might be more fun to do it that way, he thought, rather than having to watch themselves with how loud they were, and they could be themselves more. Quin thought it might be fun to even be able to shift for the kids once in a while. He thought both the human and shifter kids would have fun with that.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.” Ronan sat down next to him after their plates had been taken away. “There is some talk about town that there are two industries coming in. Have you heard anything?”

“No, but then I’ve been out of town for the last few days.” He said he’d seen his travel home. “Thanks. We’re planning our first trip in a few weeks. What kind of industries have you heard about?”

“One of them is a place that makes boxes. Custom ones that will have names on them. The other I’ve not been able to find out about. No one in the family has any knowledge of it either.” Quin told him it was probably that, just a rumor. “That’s what I was thinking too. Just something that would get people excited, only to disappoint them. Cass told me that you and he were going to go with Robby to talk to his son. I guess I never knew some of the things he’s been doing.”

“Me either, to be honest with you. If not for Billy, I’m not sure how much longer it would have been going on.” They talked about the young girl and her abilities. “She told me some things I think you should be aware of, especially before the next meeting. There are some rumors going around that you and Brook might have a little bit of an issue. Something about the new rules that have been put in place. I might have been aware there are new ones, but I won’t lie to you and tell you I’ve read them to any extent.”

“They’re replacement rules for some of the more archaic ones that were in place, like women being able to drive a car. I know it’s not been enforced for a long time, but I took it out so I could put in one about women being able to have a full-time job. Also, the byline that I put on it says that if the mate isn’t working, and it isn’t due to any good medical reason, such as he’s ill or incapacitated in some way medically, he can’t just assume the money his wife earns is for him. Also, it doesn’t count if one of them is going to college for the betterment of the family, so long as they both agree to it. However, he isn’t entitled to have access to the funds before bills and family needs are met. I’m betting that is the one people don’t care for.”

“I love that one. Can you imagine how much better Mom’s life would have been had Dad not been able to just take out money when it was there?” Ronan said that was the main reason for the new rule. “Good for you. The one I’ve been hearing the most buzz about is the banking rules. The one where it says all pride members must go through the local banks when they are in need of funding. That’ll help the entire town out.”

“Thanks, but I don’t know how much of that one I’m going to be able to enforce. There was a rule in there that said the pride leader—that would be me—would loan money to any pride member that couldn’t secure a loan. Also, that I would never be able to ask that they repay it if times were hard. That one had to go. I can imagine having people lined up out the door for that one